Le Boutique Hotel Bordeaux

Rooms

The rooms are divided between 2 elegant buildings either side of the courtyard. All are generous, with plenty of calming white space to soothe you after a hectic day. Design aficionados will spot Eichholtz cinematographic lights, Philippe Starck chairs and Flamant soft furnishings. Beds are huge, with pristine Egyptian cotton; if it’s chilly in winter, staff will pop in hot-water bottles (designer, of course) to warm them up. There’s free WiFi and gadgetry aplenty, from flat-screen TVs to Nespresso coffee makers and minibars, plus Hermès toiletries for classy pampering.

Rooms are joyfully different - enquire when booking to ensure you get one that suits. If an in-room Jacuzzi tub with coloured lighting and an underwater music system turns you on, bag one of the Suites that have them. If you’re happy with a rain shower, then a Deluxe Double will suffice. Some bathrooms are open-plan, others enclosed, so let the hotel know if you have a preference. And if you’re a light sleeper, aim high, away from the bustle of the ground floor.

We stayed in Junior Suite Larrivet Haut-Brion on the second floor, which has a claw-foot bath from where you can gaze out over Bordeaux’s historic boulevards. We loved the playful Eichholtz horns on the bedhead and, behind it, the cleverly positioned his and hers wash basins. Another Junior Suite, Haut Brion, has a huge circular Jacuzzi in the middle of the room, swathed in curtains that you can pull across for privacy; Pontet Canet has a private terrace with a heated outdoor Jacuzzi.

On the third floor there's a swanky apartment with dreamy views. It has 2 double/twin bedrooms, a bathroom with a shower and tub, an open-plan living area, and a kitchen with an oven, microwave, dishwasher and fridge-freezer.

Since our visit, the Jacuzzi Terrace Suites and a Presidential Suite have been added, promising high style, private terraces and outdoor Jacuzzis.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

The hotel’s breakfast (not included in the room rate) is among the best we’ve ever had - and we’ve eaten a few! The orange juice was freshly squeezed (a definite brownie point in our book) and the fruit salad, bread and croissants were freshly made. You can also enjoy muesli, yoghurts, hams and cheeses, even pastel-coloured macaroons and canelés (Bordeaux’s signature madeleines). If you want them, there’s cooked ham and scrambled eggs to set you up for the day, and at weekends you can turn your breakfast into a full-blown brunch with champagne and smoked salmon at any time before 2.30pm. Eat in your room, in the breakfast room or in the conservatory, or head outside to the leafy terrace.

The hotel’s wine bar has a list of local labels carefully chosen by the sommelier, plus a range of quiches, cheese and charcuterie plates, ice creams and cakes.

Otherwise, Bordeaux has a multitude of restaurants to choose from. For a lively vibe and a spot of people-watching, join the locals at Le Noailles, a nearby brasserie decorated in Parisian belle-époque style. The menu includes hearty southwestern classics, which means plenty of duck - we enjoyed salade aux gésiers (duck gizzards salad) for a starter, followed by a heavenly coquilles St Jacques aux cèpes (scallops with boletus mushrooms) in a cream sauce. For sumptuous rococo décor, history and Michelin-starred food (including a good-value fixed-price lunch), head to Le Chapon Fin, the oldest restaurant in Bordeaux.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Coffee maker
• Light meals
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Enjoy a tipple at the wine châteaux of the Medoc, including Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Latour and Château Lafite Rothschild (all by appointment). If you wish, the hotel can arrange for you to join a tour of the vineyards by car or bike. You can also sample local wines at the hotel's bar, which hosts tastings most evenings
  
• Tour Bordeaux’s magnificent 18th-century centre by foot or tram, or ask staff to arrange a personal guide
  
• Stroll along the River Garonne, taking in the fascinating Musée des Douanes, which tells the story of Bordeaux’s port and seafaring past, then enjoy the view from the impressive Pont de Pierre, built at Napoleon’s command
  
• Wander through Bordeaux’s Jardin Public, the city’s botanical gardens. Grab coffee and croissants in its lovely orangerie, then seek out the Palais Gallien, the remains of Aquitaine’s Roman capital
  
• Unwind at the hotel's spa which has a hammam, sauna, sensory shower and pool (heated from April to October). You can also book in-room treatments for a proper pamper
  
• Indulge in some retail therapy on rue Ste-Catherine, Bordeaux’s main shopping street
  
• Catch some opera or ballet at the opulent Grand Théâtre on Place de la Comédie, and get a glimpse of the wonderful trompe l’oeil paintings inside
  
• Jump on a train to St Emilion, east of Bordeaux, and spend a day enjoying the fortified medieval town’s famous wines and steep, historic lanes
  
• Or take the train to Arcachon on the Côte d’Argent to see its silvery sands and savour its famous oysters

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cycling
• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Plantlife / flora
• Private guided tours
• Shopping / markets
• Wine tasting

Kids

Bordeaux is more classically associated with food and wine, but it’s a great city to visit with children. There are plenty of museums and galleries, plus cycle trails, zoos and parks.

Although many of its rooms are geared up for romance, with free-standing bathtubs or in-room Jacuzzis, the hotel is fairly family-friendly. Two of the Junior Suites have sofabeds for 1-2 children, but overall we’d recommend the Apartment for families, as it has 2 double/twin bedrooms, a living and dining area, a kitchen and an enclosed bathroom.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Le Boutique Hotel Bordeaux is in the historic heart of Bordeaux, close to Place Gambetta. It's 150m from the Quincones tram and bus stop, where nearly all buses and trams call.

By Air:
Bordeaux Airport is 7km from the hotel and accepts flights from all over Europe, including budget airlines - click on the links below for a list. Alternatively, you can fly to Bergerac (80km away) or via Paris.

From the Airport
It's an easy taxi ride to the hotel.

By Train:
Bordeaux is served by TGV trains from all over France, and the station is about 10 minutes from the hotel by taxi or tram. If you want to travel overland from the UK, take the Eurostar from London to Paris and change there - see Seat 61 for more information.

By Car:
It's not necessary to have a car if you're visiting Bordeaux for a short break, particularly as the hotel is close to major bus and tram routes. If you do wish to hire one, please see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent when you confirm a booking through i-escape.com.

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